Faith Passed Down

The journey to a family of five and 100 employees started a world away. Born to a Soviet Union father who was arrested 50 times for preaching the gospel and operating a home church, Andrey saw firsthand God's miraculous provision in his life. On the other side of the world, Mary grew up in poverty in New Orleans. A move to America inspired by the Holy Spirit and hurricane Katrina would bring Mary and Andrey's world's colliding together.
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It was age 16, when Andrey Novik came from Belarus, former Soviet Union, now called Russia, with his parents and 8 siblings. His father was head of the underground churches in Belarus, and was for many years strongly persecuted for his faith there. From the USA, Mary grew up in Louisiana, with 13 siblings, one adopted. Mary's mother took in homeless people, sometimes having 26 people living in their home. But Mary and Andrey deeply learned the secret to life - faith. Watch hearts sold out to God in Faith Passed Down.
Andrey:
Everything goes back to my great grandparents. I think it goes back to the first world war. They got saved because of a Jewish family. My grandfather, he had twelve brothers and sisters. When the war happened, they were transferred to Russia. On the way back on the train, nine of them passed away because of the hunger. My grandfather, he survived. His father, which is my great grandfather, he said, 'I am going to do everything possible to dedicate my son [to the Lord]. My grandfather, he got married when he was 17 and my grandmother was 16. He was always saying, 'I am going to have sons. They are all going to be pastors.' So one daughter and eight sons. From those eight sons, 6 or 7 of them are pastors. My dad had the passion for Christ all the way from childhood.

I have nine brothers and sisters. My dad was a pastor. Our house was used as the underground church. The first story [or floor] was used for the family. We only had one room. The second story was just for the church.
We had neighbors, they were not Christians, but they would always watch. It they saw the KGB [Russian Secret Police] coming, they would always inform us.

My dad, he got 50 arrests. I remember one specific moment when he was knocked down to the ground. They look at us, kids, and like, 'Hey, you’re probably not going to see your dad again, because he is breaking the law. He allows the church in this house. We were very concerned. And I remember those emotions. He's unafraid. He's a great, great man of God. It was hard for my mom. She would cry, but she would always tell us, 'Hey, don't say anything to your Dad, because I don't want him to stop the ministry.'

The collapse of the Soviet Union happened. My dad, he was emotional. And I remember that moment exactly, when he was holding my hand and for the first time we walked in the street and just enjoying the moment and the freedom. Finally we can have a church outside of my house.

Mary:
I grew up in a poverty mindset. Born in Virginia. When I was five my dad got a job offer in New Orleans. My mom had nine children, so it was a big uprooting. Six months later my dad got laid off from his job. It was a huge adventure and difficulty for our family. My mom kept on getting pregnant. There were 13 biological children. There is also my adopted brother and he makes 14. My parents took in homeless people as a ministry. We had like 26 people living in our house one time. We lived day by day, paycheck to paycheck. God always said that he is going to provide our daily bread. Growing up in that you just see God's provision.

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